MALCOLM CRANE FROM MOUNTAIN ASH AND PONTYPRIDD CAUGHT IN SHOCKING OFFENSES INVOLVING CHILD SEXUAL OFFENSES AND ILLEGAL MOBILE PHONE POSSESSION

In a series of disturbing incidents, Malcolm Crane, a resident of Mountain Ash and Pontypridd, was found to be in breach of multiple legal restrictions related to his previous convictions for child sexual offenses. The events unfolded over the course of March 2022, revealing a pattern of illegal activity and disregard for court orders that had been put in place to protect the public from his predatory behavior.

Crane, who had been convicted at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court in May 2019, faced serious charges related to attempting to incite a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual acts and attempting to communicate sexually with a minor. As part of his sentence, he was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order that was set to last for ten years. This order mandated that he notify authorities of any change in his personal details, including his address, and prohibited him from possessing any mobile phones capable of internet access.

Despite these restrictions, Crane was caught with two mobile phones during police visits to his residence. The first incident occurred when police attempted to contact him at his home in Dyffryn y Coed, Church Village, Pontypridd. When there was no response at the door and no subsequent contact, officers decided to follow up at his partner’s address in Port Tennant on January 13, 2022. There, they located Crane, aged 50, and discovered that he was in possession of two mobile phones with internet access, which was a clear violation of the court order.

During police interviews, Crane claimed to be unaware of the annual notification requirement, asserting that he believed the obligation ended once his probation period concluded. He insisted he had previously registered his details but failed to do so this year despite receiving reminders. His failure to comply with the notification requirements and possession of internet-enabled phones led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

Crane appeared before Swansea Crown Court to face charges of breaching the sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with notification requirements. He admitted to these breaches, acknowledging that he had not followed the legal directives imposed upon him.

In a separate but related incident from January 2022, Crane was involved in a disturbing online interaction that drew significant attention. Under the false identity of a 12-year-old girl named Lucy, he engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a decoy operated by the paedophile hunting group Stop. This group aims to identify and apprehend online predators targeting children. The interaction was part of a livestreamed sting operation that was broadcast on Facebook.

Prosecutor David Pugh explained that the decoy profile was set up to mimic a young girl from Nottingham, and Crane accepted the friend request in January. He then proceeded to ask for photographs and sent flirtatious messages, including comments like “Hello sexy, are you there beautiful?” and “I want to kiss your boobs.” The conversation quickly turned sexual, with Crane encouraging the decoy to put her hands in her underwear and asking about her physical development. He also sent an explicit image of a penis after asking if she had ever seen a boy’s genitalia.

Members of the Stop group attended Crane’s home on March 6, livestreaming the operation online. The public gathered at the scene, and police arrested Crane, who admitted to interacting with the Facebook account. He claimed that the initial exchanges were friendly but later turned sexual, despite knowing the decoy was a minor. Crane insisted he was not attracted to children and was seeking attention, not sexual gratification, and claimed ignorance of the criminal nature of his actions.

Crane’s criminal history is extensive, with 26 previous convictions primarily related to dishonesty and violence. Prosecutors argued that his offending was aggravated by the premeditated grooming involved in the online interactions. He was charged with attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity and attempting sexual communication with a child.

His defense lawyer, Nick Gedge, highlighted that Crane had no relevant previous convictions related to child abuse and emphasized that there was no actual child involved in the online incident. Gedge also noted Crane’s shame and his isolated lifestyle, suggesting that the livestream incident caused him significant public humiliation, especially as many local residents were aware of the event.

Judge Geraint Walters sentenced Crane to 27 months in prison for the online offenses. Additionally, he imposed a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and mandated that Crane register as a sex offender for ten years. The judge’s remarks underscored the importance of lawfulness in online activities and warned that individuals engaging in such conduct must be cautious to avoid legal repercussions, emphasizing the role of police in handling these cases.